UNILAG FM: Beyond Campus ‘junk’

Though established to take care of affairs within the University of Lagos, nature and doggedness of its managers has taken UNILAG FM beyond expectation to the extent that is giving operators of commercial stations a run for their monies, Raheem Akingbolu reports.

For many years, stakeholders in the broadcasting industry yearned for the establishment of community stations to strengthen democratic rules and aid development but successive military administrations saw it as a threat to their unbridled used of power.  During the second term in office of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission gave community radio license to a few higher institutions to aid learning and serve as information center to the schools. Though this is not the community stations being pressed for by the agitators, they saw it as a step towards achieving it. Thus, on on 14 November, 2004, UNILAG FM was inaugurated.

 

Speaking with this reporter early in the week in her office, the acting coordinator of the FM Stattion, Mrs. Bisi King-Paul explained that  “In line with broadcasting law, which recommended the establishment of community specialized Radio Stations, University of Lagos, along a few higher institutions of learning was given license to operate FM stations by the regulatory agencies eight years ago,”

The Reach of the station

Like other campus stations, Unilag FM was given 100 transmitters, which ordinarily should restrict its coverage to within the campus environment, but Mrs. King-Paul,  stated that two factors helped the station to reach the entire Lagos and some part of Ogun State.

She said; “Unilag FM broadcast to entire Lagos and part of Ogun State, because its antenna was mounted on top the School Senate building, which is obviously the tallest building on Campus. Another factor is the fact that the school is located in the water area, which makes the water waves to help the transmission to reach Epe, Badagry, Iyana Ipaja and other areas in Lagos and part of Ogun State.

Structure

Unilag FM has two Studios; Live studio and production studio. The live studio takes care of live programmes, while the production studio is mainly to air recorded programmes.  Aside the studio, it has a newsroom and a technical department.

Personnel

All over the world, community stations are meant to take care of news and stories t related to their area of operations. To avoid interference and influence of government people in that community are recommended to work there. On this note, Mrs. Paul explained that students form the largest chunk of the personnel in the station. Employed staff however includes; three people in charge programme, three studio managers and two technical officers.

On this note, the News Editor of the station, Mr. Tayo Takuro further stated that; “Unilag FM was instituted to serve as laboratory center to students of Mass Communications but it has in recent time included students of English who handles presentations, Electrical and Electronic Engineering students, who are involved in the technical services. 

Funding

Again, to avoid unnecessary government interference, the station is majorly run by the University of Lagos authority. Though, it accept a few adverts but this is also censored so as to avoid political adverts, alcohol and tobacco ads, which could badly influence students.

CSR Activities

As a medium that create awareness and disseminate relevant information to the university community, the news editor of the station, Mr. Tayo Takuro said the station often air announcement about some important things that could endanger lives. Among other things, he cited the case of an electrical pole that fell in Yaba, which was brought to the notice of the station and was subsequently announced to members of the public and especially technical staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Threat to Commercial stations

As a result of its influence on the youth sector of the Nigerian economy, further findings reveal at the station that it has become a torn in the flesh of some commercial stations that saw it as competitors

Incessant Occurrence of Accidents Worries Lagosians

By Raheem Akingbolu

With many Nigerians fallen victims of road accidents, Lagos residents have continued to mount pressure on government to find lasting solution to infrastructural deficiencies leading to frequent loss of lives. Between December and now, cases of accidents in Lagos and its environs are unimaginable.

On Wednesday 30 January, 2013 in Ogba Lagos, a commercial motor cyclist, in attempt to run away from the police from Area ‘D’ Police Command, Ogba, rammed into an oncoming vehicle along Yaya Abatan.

In another ugly development, a multiple accident, which involved commercial buses and private cars in Ikoyi, led to the death of three people with others sustaining various degrees of injuries. 

If the two instances were considered serious the two accidents that occurred along Lagos-Ibadan express road in December was fatal. As a reporter, this writer was on a tour with the head of Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in December, when a the team received a signal that an accident had occurred around Redeemed Camp. The scene of the accident was gory as many lifeless bodies were found in their pull of blood.

Few minutes before leaving the scene, they received another call that fresh accident had occurred at Otedola Link Bridge, along Lagos Ibadan Expressway where an articulated tanker vehicle carrying 33,000 litres of petrol reportedly lost control hitting four other vehicles.

At least two unidentified persons lost their lives in the fatal accident.

First Bank's Premium Lounge

Inside the First Bank ‘Premium Lounge’

In a rare positioning move, handlers of First Bank brand have unveiled a new innovation, which aims at providing great comfort for loyal customers of the bank and brand. Visitors to the Marina branch of First Bank on the Victoria Island in Lagos were surprised last week with the sudden emergence of a cubicle within the banking hall.
Although it was on a Monday morning when customers were eager to do their transactions and dash out, the alluring structure caused a stir as curious minds were willing to find out what was within and its purpose.
The little explanation by a young lady at the branch that it was an innovation that was still in the cooler was considered not enough for this writer and he decided to dig more into it.
Among other facilities, the structure, which is located in a specially-designed section of the branch, has a large seating area with leather sofas, refreshments, private meeting room for the customer to discuss personal business with the relationship teams without interruption.
However, after a number of calls to those in charge of the bank's corporate image, more revelations emerged, which indicated that the structure, which is the 'First Premium Lounge' in this part of the world, was conceptualised to give patrons a better banking experience.


Rationale


On how the management came about the design of the premium lounge, it was revealed that it was conceived in order to create new targets point of service for affluent customers. "The design is aimed at providing comfort, security and luxury towards the well-being of the customer," Mr. Tunde Owolabi, the group head for retail banking in Lagos Island, who was directed to field questions from journalists, disclosed.
Speaking further, Owolabi added that there are currently six of such lounges in Nigeria. According to him; "There are three in Lagos and three in Abuja. These lounges are comparable to those found in international banks such as Barclays and HSBC. It is expected that by June 2013, more would have been opened over 31 locations in Nigeria to cater to all customers in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major cities".
Another unique feature of the offering is that the service is said to be available by invitation only. "It is for customers who have a pre-qualified turnover with the bank. Invited customers will be issued the Premium Card with which they can gain access to the Lounge" the bank stated.


Better Banking Experience

If the idea behind the innovation is followed to the letter, then customers who have access to 'The Premium Lounge' can enjoy imperial treatment such as a designated officer who would be available to answer queries, resolve complaints and provide feedback within a shorter turn-around time.
They would also be given priority in branch cash deposits and withdrawals, instant issuance of ATM cards, provision of account statements as well as other value-added services provided by the bank.
There will also be timely provision of statement of accounts through email or hard copy to such customers and they will have access to savings and time deposits in local and foreign currencies, remittance and foreign exchange services.
With five new Premium Banking lounges already located in high-brow areas of Marina, Victoria Island, Ikeja - and 26 others scheduled to be sited in various branches in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja by June - a new service line has been developed for these distinguished clients and professionals, whose priority is to enrich and protect their assets.



Endorsements


On the second visit on Wednesday of the same week, to the Marina Premium Lounge of the bank on invitation to experience the new banking environment, three premium customers; Kanu Etia, Uchenna Ogbu and Kehinde Shote confirmed in separate interviews that the initiative was super; considering the value and customer service it offered.
Etia, an oil and gas expert, said he was averse to filling out forms and waiting for several minutes before being attended to; the reason he detests entering any of the banking halls except First Bank.
"I must confess that I enjoyed that personalised and royal treatment. Please, keep it up and do replicate it in other cities, as you promised," requested Etia.
Ogbu, the managing director and chief executive officer of Eurocomm Securities Limited, said, as a customer, he has over 20 years banking experience with First Bank and relishes the initiative. "I have seen a lot of ideas and the things we have and I have personally benefitted from First Bank. This is well managed by the managers," he said.
Shote said: "I hate filling forms. I don't want to go to a bank where I fill forms. I got here and things got sorted out. I rather come here and rest and get things sorted out. I don't like stress."
"This is like a mini branch; we give the affluent customers the best service they want. Over here, there is high and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. The customer can check his balance, buy airtime and do other minor banking transactions using the Firstonline facility while we quickly attend to his needs, said First Bank's Ms. Olubunmi Oladimeji, who ushered in the premium customers into the ambience of the expanse premium lounge of the Marina branch.
"As a corporate client, we can even help the premium customer pay employees' salaries."


Positioning Stance


As a market leader, First Bank has consistently maintained its position and continues to bond strongly with customers. Considering the fact that an average customer hates to wait endlessly in the banking hall, this new idea may turn out to be another superlative tool needed to cow competition.
So far, analysts and especially customers have described the new move as something that would further position First Bank as a brand to beat, given the fact that the 'Premium Lounge' would give patrons a kind of ambience for transaction.